After the March 26 budget open forum at Radford University saw tensions elevate, the crowd at Tuesday’s open forum regarding academic programs and the program review process may have been taken aback to see armed plain-clothes police officers standing in the doorways of Bondurant Auditorium in Preston Hall.
But armed officers were not needed on Tuesday. While dissatisfaction was obvious throughout the crowd of approximately 1,000 people who attended the meeting, attendees were generally civil and attentive as administrators responded to audience questions.
President Penelope Kyle, who drew criticism from students for her performance in the last open forum, spoke only briefly on Tuesday. She thanked the audience for attending.
Kyle also offered an apology. “I apologize,” Kyle said, “for any role I may have played in the miscommunication about the purpose of last Thursday’s meeting.” She went on to say that she did not connect the budget issues facing RU with the academic program reviews that were underway at the same time as the budget forum. She then turned the program over to Provost Wil Stanton and did not participate additionally in the meeting.
Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Dennis Grady then acted as moderator for the forum. Grady was also chair of the Academic Programs Review Committee, and he took time to explain the review process to the audience.
Student Cynthia Coughlin was the first to address the assembled panel, offering insight and corrections regarding statistics about the Appalachian Studies program that were offered in the program review meeting. Coughlin’s comments elicited applause from the audience.
Dr. Glen Martin, a professor of Philosophy and Religious studies, later called the expedited review process into question. Martin questioned the lack of time given to program directors to defend the existence of their programs, particularly when some programs had recently been under review. “If this is a serious university, and a major university, then it seems that this whole process is educationally demeaning and degrading to our entire university,” Martin said.
Lots of questions arose about the Anthropology program, which was dismantled by Stanton and split into two groups, a forensics component with the rest becoming part of Sociology. The Anthropology degree has ceased the enrollment of new students although current anthropology majors will be allowed to continue taking coursework to complete their degree. Stanton’s mantra throughout much of the discussion was that decisions were being made to make programs stronger and that the university had to evolve.
Grady stayed on message after the meeting with his gardening analogy. “Sometimes you have to prune a little bit in order to have a healthier tree,” Grady said to WDBJ7.
Another question that elicited strong approval from the audience came from a graduate student who asked “Why can’t we promote programs like Appalachian Studies, Geology, and Computer Science the way we promote athletics and the basketball team?”
“That’s a good question,” Stanton answered. “We ought to be finding ways to move them out of the shadows and into the light for all our programs.”
But it was that connecting of those dots between academic program reviews and the budget that has many students, faculty, and staff at RU concerned. Matt Prater, a member of Students Advocating Liberal Arts (SALA), said after the meeting that he was disappointed that no real answer was ever given to the question about why these program reviews had to come now if they are not part of potential budget cuts.
Stephen Schmidt, co-founder of SALA, said that despite disappointments in some of the responses given by administrators, he considered the meeting a success because so many people turned out in support of academics at RU. “I think it’s more important that the questions were asked publicly rather than necessarily getting an answer to the actual questions posed.”
Emily Walker, another co-founder of SALA, said that she hopes the group can take their concerns to the Board of Visitors. The committee’s recommendations now go to the Faculty Senate. Stanton will use the committee’s recommendations and Faculty Senate’s comments to make his recommendations to Kyle and the Board of Visitors, which meets April 22-23.
Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Just another student // Apr 1, 2009 at 12:59 am
Radford students showed up to get real answers about these changes, and they were given a bunch of threadbare metaphors.
The only thing that needs pruning at this university are the diseased branches of an overgrown, self-important administration.
2 The Man Who Snarls // Apr 1, 2009 at 7:36 am
Will Stanton speaks in idioms.
‘Why can’t we promote academics like athletics?’
‘I’ve always said that RU is a hidden jewel.’
‘Where did the Anthropology program go?’
‘It’s bass-ackwards! But it’s not going anywhere; Anthropology is the cat’s pajamas.’
‘Why don’t you ever deliver a straight answer?’
‘What can I say? Cat’s got my tongue. WHOO-HOO!’
3 Not impressed // Apr 1, 2009 at 8:50 am
So President Kyle, you apologized for not connecting the dots..ooookayyy, but I want to hear an apology from you for the total distain and outright rudeness to the audience you exhibited last Thursday.
We noticed you didn’t do much talking this time. It’s obvious you don’t know how to relate to us ‘common folk’ and your handlers couldn’t risk letting you insult us again.
Please move on to your next conquest and leave RU alone now. You’ve done enough damage here. And take your pathetic attempt at an apology with you.
4 Thomas // Apr 1, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I felt that President Kyle’s apology, while sincere, was for the wrong reasons. Her apology was for not realizing that the student body had connected the issues of Academic Review and the budget cuts. I still don’t know whether the administration’s position is that they are or are not connected. Essentially President Kyle apologized for OUR misunderstanding. This is NOT what upset students and faculty at the last forum. What caused the disturbance is that questions were not addressed properly, and were forcibly put through a screening process, and people were further upset by the president’s response to our outrage at those situations. Just because a question has the word vice provost in it, does not mean it is asking for a definition of the job. That question was far better answered in the administrations Q&A document that was linked to Tuesday morning. The second forum was better put together, and I feel that the questions were better addressed, even though many were still worked around.
5 Rick // Apr 1, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Meh. I hope concerned students and faculty are able to convince the Board of Visitors to tone down these cuts, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
One question for Mr. Jackson et al.: what role is the SGA playing in this, if any? I’ve heard almost no mention of them, and they are the students’ *elected* representation.
In the meantime, thanks for my degree, Radford, but don’t expect a dime from this alumnus any time soon.
6 Singin' the blues // Apr 1, 2009 at 10:21 pm
So there’s no connection between budget cuts and the program reviews? That’s like saying that Houdini’s death from peritonitis was not a result of being punched in the gut by J. Gordon Whitehead! This is ridiculous!
7 The Rev. Wes Jamison // Apr 2, 2009 at 2:11 am
I am deeply grieved by what seems to be the focus of President Kyle and others in leadership at RU to turn the university into a mini version of Virginia Tech. Radford has always had a strong focus on the Liberal Arts and Humanities. It has historically been a university that recognizes the importance of place and the need to preserve the culture in which it finds itself. That focus is now being lost as President Kyle pushes the university toward becoming a technical school. The New River Valley and Southwestern Virginia do no need another technical school. We need a university with the courage and resources to teach our young people to think and to value the culture and traditions of their home. If this isn’t to be Radford, then which institution will it be?
8 Meredith // Apr 2, 2009 at 10:06 am
I’m with Rick. These forums seem purely performative on the part of the administration. As a recipient of what is apparently a thoroughly expendable liberal arts education, next time Radford wants my money, I’m writing a check to George Mason.
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